The six-bedroom property was acquired by a John Lavallin Puxley in 1820, but was made famous by du Maurier’s semi-historical novel, Hungry Hill, in which it was referred to as Llatharog.

The story is an account of feuding families through the generations, detailing how the Puxley family – renamed Brodrick in the book – mined copper in Cork and needed a place in Carmarthenshire, in order to be in easy reach of Swansea Bay, where the metal was unloaded from ships crossing the Irish Sea.

“As such Llethr became a staying point for different members of the family as they undertook the arduous journey from Dunboy Castle in Southern Ireland to Wales, and on to London,” said Dan Rees, a property agent with Savills, which is selling the home.

“The house is a gentlemen’s residence that still retains aspects of the charm conjured up by Du Maurier in her magnificent story of life in the late Victorian era.”

“It was once part an estate of 200 acres and is steeped in my family’s history,” he said.

“There are many references to it and it is immediately recognisable in Hungry Hill. The names were all changed but the house, referred to as Llatharog was vividly described and the driveway, which sees carriages thundering down it is just as in the book.”

Mr Puxley, whose family occupied the property until the 1930s said it was a truly enchanting place.

“My parents, grandparents and great grandparents all spent their honeymoons at Llethr Llestri – it has a really charm and beauty about it with great views.”

However Mr Puxley, who is based in London, said while the sale of the property came with some regret, it should be handed over to another family to enjoy.

“The property is in need of restoration and while we could invest in doing that, it would only be to let it out again and we didn’t feel that would be the best return for us.

“In many ways we feel it would be better to be in the ownership of a Welsh family who could own it and enjoy it the way my family have for the last 200 years.

“I’d much rather that than see it let by me, living 150 miles away.”

The property, which is in need of renovation and has a guide price of £695,000, stands at the end of its private drive in 34 acres of land.

It lies about a mile from the village of Llanddarog and eight miles east of Carmarthen.

Mr Rees said it was rare that a home with such appeal comes on the market

“Llethr Llestri is a romantic property that offers the new owners an exciting opportunity to restore a Grade II listed country house back to its former glory.

“It certainly is a magical place sitting privately in its 34 acres and because of its link to Daphne du Maurier.

“When I first saw the house last autumn I was immediately impressed by it and the link to du Maurier was an amazing coincidence as my wife was reading one of her other novels, Frenchman’s Creek, at the time.

“As Llethr Llestri offers so much I am confident that it will find a new owner very soon.”

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